Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution gets ‘Death Knell rating’ of NC-17

Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain follow-up has been slapped by Stateside censors with the harshest rating they could possibly give after claiming the movie is too erotic for U.S audiences.

However, days ahead of Lust, Caution’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the US distributor Focus Features has decided not to contest the MPAA’s NC-17 certification. An NC-17 rating usually is given to hardcore horror released and is looked upon as the death knell for a film’s theatrical prospects as it denotes extreme content, which doesn’t bode well with many cinema owners.

Normally, distributors would contest an NC-17 rating or agree to make cuts to ensure a more family-friends ruling so cinema chains and individual art houses will show the movie. Focus Features will not be doing so however. The company’s chief executive officer, James Schamus has said, “”As with so many of his previous films, Oscar-winning director Ang Lee has crafted a masterpiece about and for grown-ups. Focus Features accepts the MPAA’s NC-17 rating without protest and Lust, Caution will be released this Fall as previously announced.”

The film will open in the US on September 28th 2007. The film is based on Eileen Chang’s short story, Se Jie and stars newbie Tang Wei as a young woman who gets involved with a plot to assassinate a Japanese Collaborator.

Source

CLICK HERE to keep updated with the latest news, share a comment or problems with products and services. Follow us on twitter or read more news.